Hiking Mount Olympus

By Tyler Marshall

Mount Olympus lives up to the drama of its name.

It's deceptive though. The mountain tops out at around 9,000 feet above sea level. In mountaineering terms, this is hardly a heavy hitter. In spite of this, the climbing profile is nuts: The Mt. Olympus Trail climbs 4,200 feet in about 3.4 miles.

From an unceremonious parking lot just off of the aptly named Wasatch Blvd, you begin the rapid ascent. On any given day, the trail is enjoyed by hikers, runners, dog walkers, climbers, influencers, and others! It’s quite the melting pot.

I arrived at the trailhead at 4 in the afternoon. It was about 90 degrees. The hot air rising from the asphalt made me queasy. And yet I was full of eagerness. I had some water, trail snacks, and my trusty bucket hat -- nothing left to do now except hit the dirt, and get worked by the mountain and sun.

Olympus can be divided into three zones. The first, at the base of the mountain, features some 15 elongated switchbacks on the southwestern face of the dramatic peak. This zone is exposed, a bit dusty, and also beautiful. This section of trail is graced by gambols, wild flowers, and lots of little critters.

Fellow trailrunner Jefferson and I started our hike and soaked it in. Maybe I should say that it was the opposite: before long, all of the water on the inside of my body seemed to be on the outside of my body. We passed a number of people going in various directions. I was perplexed: why would anyone be out at a time like this?! We found a nice rhythm, alternating between a run and power-hike pace.

Zone one ascends almost two miles, and 1,500 feet. At this point, there is a creek crossing, and the trail enters a treeline.

The second zone is immaculate. The trail largely stays within a tunnel of trees. It starts with a number of quick switchbacks, and then proceeds as a long, windy, technical ascent. This section is just over a mile long, and features a grueling 2,200 feet of vertical gain. A small spring part way up this zone provides a sweet sound, and a relief from the heat. We climbed, and my legs felt heavy. The trail gets tougher. Pebbles turn into rocks, and rocks into boulders. My pace slowed, and my heart rate went up. This is a terrible combo.

Again, a number of people were descending the mountain as we climbed. I couldn't believe how many people were out. We stopped. I looked around. I listened.

I couldn't hear any noise from the busy valley below. The tiring conditions of the trail had distracted me from its beauty. The greens are vibrant, and create a dramatic contrast with the boulders and rocks embedded in the trail. This spot, just minutes from a city center, provides unbelievably quick access to an experience in nature. It truly is a sacred space.

Northern Utah is a unique place. The Wasatch mountains that loom just minutes from major metro areas. Olympus is a popular peak amongst this beautiful range with its close proximity to Salt Lake City.

As I looked around, I quickly understood why: the insane accessibility. This mountain, while not overly huge, provides a big-mountain experience that requires minimal previous experience to enjoy. This trailhead is right off the road. It’s hard to comprehend how spoiled we are to have 4,000 foot plus climbs right in our backyards.

Jefferson and I started climbing. Without any indication of change, the trail suddenly enters zone three. It starts at a beautiful spot where ridges converge, and the terrain flattens. This area is idyllic. The summit itself is a rock wall, which sits imposingly above this area. The zone contains about .3 miles, and a whopping 600 feet of gain. The trail continues north from the flatter area toward the wall, and becomes a scramble. It’s difficult to describe more vertical terrain because everyone’s comfort level is unique.

However, I would dare say that most will find this climbing section safe, doable, and fun! It is easy to maintain three to four points of contact en route to the summit. In addition, there’s been enough traffic on it that navigation is easy.

Jefferson and I arrived at the summit. I felt stoked! Worked and stoked.

As for the top? I’ll let you go and discover Mt. Olympus’ beauty on your own!